Skin Cancer Exposed: What Women Need to Know

You may use SPF to protect your face from sun damage, but what about your thighs, calves and chest? All are high-risk areas for women to develop potentially fatal melanoma. Read on to find out more about how being female affects skin cancer…

How many times have you had a friend tell you, “I have skin cancer”? It is the most common form of cancer in the United States.

Many women think of the worst possible scenario when the word “cancer” is mentioned. However, two types of skin cancer are rarely metastatic and often curable.

These types – basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) – make up 95% of nonmelanoma skin cancers (meaning they do not develop from moles).

BCCs and SCCs can be serious. They can invade muscle, cartilage and bone, causing significant local destruction, disfigurement and scarring.

Of the 1 million nonmelanoma skin cancers diagnosed each year, approximately 175,000 will occur in American women. Worldwide, Australian women have the highest incidence rate.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer takes decades to develop, and the effects of ultraviolet radiation are cumulative. Women who sunbathe for just a few weeks every summer are exposed to a considerable amount of sun, which can lead to skin cancer in vulnerable skin types.

The most lethal form of skin cancer is malignant melanoma. Potentially fatal, malignant melanoma is not very common, but it is the most frequent cancer in women ages 25-29 and the second most common form of cancer in those ages 30-34.

Fitzpatrick’s Sun-Reactive Skin Types:

Skin Type

Skin Color

Tanning Response

Type I

White

Always burn, never tan

Type II

White

Usually burn, tan with difficulty

Type III

White

Sometimes mild burn, tan average

Type IV

Brown

Rarely burn, tan with ease

Type V

Dark brown

Very rarely burn, tan very easily

Type VI

Black

No burn, tan very easily

Women with the least melanin in their skin (blond and blue-eyed) are especially susceptible for developing one or more skin cancers, including melanoma.

Skin type is often categorized according to the Fitzpatrick skin type scale, with lower-number skin types more susceptible to developing skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 80% of an individual’s lifetime sun exposure occurs before the age of 20.

Why Your Sex MattersSkin cancer can appear anywhere on the body, even on areas that have relatively little sun exposure.

According to Perry Robbins, clinical professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine and founder of the Skin Cancer Foundation, “over 80% of non-melanoma skin cancers appear on the face, head, neck and back of the hands.”

High-risk areas for women to develop melanoma include the back of the calves, top of the thighs, abdomen and chest, because women have less body hair and wear two-piece bathing suits.

It's important for women to develop monthly skin exams and visit their dermatologist if they develop a pimple or open sore that does not heal or a mole that looks like it is changing color or size.

Dermatologists frequently diagnose multiple skin cancers on women who have worked summers as lifeguards or are employed as physical education coaches.

Women who may not have worked in the sun but have spent many hours sunbathing without sunscreen, or who use baby oil and iodine instead of sunscreen, are also at greater risk.

Another major increase to women’s risk of developing skin cancer is the growth in popularity over the past two decades, despite public education campaigning, of indoor tanning.

Many studies conducted in the United States and Europe confirm that melanomas result from exposure to artificial sunlamps found in most tanning salons.

Unfortunately, the same studies indicate that approximately 75% of people who use these facilities are women, typically younger than 30. Many states now have restrictive legislation regarding tanning beds.

The consequences of chronic sun exposure to the skin are readily apparent when a woman compares the exposed skin of her face, hands and neck with areas that are more protected, such as the abdomen or buttocks.

Women who have not protected their skin experience more deep wrinkles, loss of elasticity (the skin’s ability to be stretched and return to its normal shape), coarse/parched skin with areas of thinning and thickening, brown spots and broken blood vessels.

Additionally, precancerous lesions, called actinic keratoses, start appearing as smooth, flat or slightly raised pink spots that become irregular, scaly or wartlike. If left untreated, these lesions may eventually turn into squamous cell carcinomas.

Treatments that are more specific for photoaging include dermabrasion, chemical peel, laser treatment, collagen/filler injection and plastic surgery. Medications containing retinoids (Retin-A) have been proven to reduce fine wrinkling, pore size and mottled pigmentation; they can also stimulate blood flow to give a more youthful, rosy appearance to the skin.

Using retinoids is also thought to prevent new precancerous lesions from developing. Women being treated with a tretinoin product may find it useful to purchase a moisturizer or foundation with a sun protection factor (SPF) added, as their skin may be more sensitive to ultraviolet light. These treatments may not be safe for pregnant women, so check with your doctor first.

Women who are considering treatment for photaging may want to meet first with a board-certified dermatologist and a board-certified plastic surgeon. There are several options for treating sun-damaged skin and combinations of cosmetic treatments, including face-lifts.

Women seeking care for precancerous/cancerous lesions should find a board-certified dermatologist to get a second opinion, if necessary.

However, it is important to remember that waiting too long can allow a cancer to develop further and ultimately result in far more extensive treatment.

Many of the results of photoaging do not pose health threats, but they can have an adverse emotional effect, particularly among women. In a society that values good looks and a youthful appearance, most females do not want to have preventable acquired cosmetic flaws or to look old prematurely.

Fortunately, many positive achievements in skin care have occurred since 1979. When sun exposure is limited or completely avoided for a number of years, a new layer of collagen (protein and elastin responsible for the support and elasticity of the skin) appears in the dermis, causing the skin to start appearing younger and more attractive.

Besides prevention, a number of safe and effective treatments can contribute significantly in making skin look young and healthy.

Cosmetic procedures are not for everyone. For some people, wearing attractive clothing and stylish haircuts boosts confidence and self-esteem.

Luckily, camouflage and bleaching products are available for all female skin types with pigmentation problems, unsightly scars or broken blood vessels.

These products can be worn with makeup or alone. A healthful alternative to soaking up the sun is self-tanning products. Newer products are far more effective than the earlier generations of “bronzers,” and many formulations are designed specifically for women’s skin; some products even incorporate a sunscreen.

A new trend of “airbrushing” a tan looks very natural and lasts approximately three weeks.

Preventing Skin Cancer and Protecting Your SkinWhen French designer Coco Chanel introduced the world to the “suntanned body,” she was not aware that by the late 1970s, great strides in skin care were starting to dispel what she once advocated.

To prevent or reduce the effects of skin cancer and photoaging, women should avoid the sun around noontime, seek shade whenever available, and wear protective clothing and sunscreens.

Improvements in sunscreens and sunblocks have been made, and their production and marketing have become more sophisticated in the last 25 years.

Sunscreens are available in a variety of vehicles – gels, lotions and creams – and with SPFs ranging from 2 to 50 and above.

A good sunscreen should provide broad-spectrum protection against ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light. Many cosmetics now contain sunscreens, which are also incorporated into fabrics in some lines of clothing.

Other measures of protection include seeing a board-certified dermatologist once a year for a skin exam and every six months if you already have a history of skin cancer or precancerous lesions.

Test Your Skin Cancer IQWhen it comes to your sun safety, is your skin cancer knowledge current or is ignorance bliss? Consider this: Skin cancer is diagnosed more often than all other cancers combined. Have we caught your attention now? Find out just how much you know when it comes to skin cancer and prevention.

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